Three Weeks (Updated)

My washer decided to give up the ghost, which is a wee bit problematic when you have puppies. I do laundry all day long 😬 The washer/dryer that came with the house are old and so not a big surprise. Just inconvenient.

I spent the morning deciding what to do about this — thanks to Cindy for her advice 🙏 — and the new washer and dryer arrive tomorrow. In the meantime, Galen and Bethany will provide laundry service — whew.

In puppy news, the Scamper Fairy visited overnight — everyone is trying to run and twirl this morning, with varying degrees of success.

Sapphire with a new toy

The Tooth Fairy also visited — tiny teeth are poking through.

Sapphire and Topaz

I can’t believe the Gems are three weeks old today! This is Star Garnet.

Sapphire.

All the puppies are quite social, which is great because three weeks old is the official start of puppy visiting season.

Let the visiting begin!

(Later)

I love this photo of Jennifer and her daughter with Sapphire 💙

They came today along with a friend, Maddy, and a good time was had by all.

They brought wonderful presents for the Gems, including this blanket.

Jasper

How perfect is that?! THANK YOU Graffunders!

I attempted to do three-week photos on the blanket. It was more of a rodeo than last week. The camera did not know how to handle all the white in the blanket and the puppies would not hold still. I used the Nikon and then tried my iPhone. I waited until the puppies were sleepy and then tried when they were just fed and so on.

I got a couple of okay photos of two puppies.

Star Garnet

Sapphire.

And this includes all three boys so we shall call this their official three-week photo.

Topaz and Star Garnet.

The puppies are getting pink stains on their muzzles. They are exclusively nursing so I worry that they are causing micro tears on Capella when they nurse. I dremeled everyone’s nails this afternoon and then filed them — I hope that helps. You can see what I mean in this photo of Jasper.

Also, isn’t he so cute?! Well, they all are 🩷💙💙💙

Day 20: Science is Cool (updated)

As I mentioned in the litter announcement video, this is an intentionally dual-sired litter and we will use DNA to establish paternity.

Sapphire

The Gems’ DNA samples arrived at the lab last week, and I hope we will have results by mid-July 🍀

Jasper

AKC DNA Analysis generates results for 201 markers in the form of letters. For each marker, a dog has two letters — one from their mom and one from their dad. Here is what it looks like in the report.

AKC will do the analysis of paternity for $50 and I will have that done to validate results, but this is not actually rocket science.

Star Garnet

I made a spreadsheet to do the paternity analysis. I eliminated all DNA markers in which the potential sires are the same. If they are both AA, for example, and Capella is TT, it tells us nothing if the puppy is AT since the A could have come from either sire.

Topaz and Sapphire

The pink highlighted are the markers that went into the spreadsheet because the two potential dads have different results for those markers.

And here is a snippet from the spreadsheet.

For DNA Marker #1, Capella will always contribute one of her C’s. The same is true for Ash — he can only contribute C. But Deuce can only contribute an A and this means Marker #1 will tell the story, right?

Jasper

If the puppy is CC, Ash has to be the dad. If the puppy is AC, Deuce must be the dad.

Sapphire with Star Garnet behind

Marker #2 is not as definitive. If the puppy is AA, that will mean Capella contributed her A but we cannot know which potential sire contributed the other one. If the puppy is AG, we do not know if the G came from Capella or Ash. But if the puppy is GG then we can rule out Deuce as the sire because he doesn’t have a G to contribute.

I think it is all so very interesting!

And he’s out…

🤷🏼‍♀️

Happy Tuesday 🩷💙💙💙

(later)

It is contagious — this is Sapphire.

This is a photo series of play between Star Garnet and Topaz.

😂

I find it fascinating how they are now using their front paws in such intentional ways — this is Topaz and Jasper.

And today was the Big Day!

⭐️🙄

Day 19 (updated)

With eyes and ears open for business — and walking getting more skilled by the hour, it seems — the babies are beginning to interact in their environment with intention.

Star Garnet

This apple toy, which has been through multiple litters, is a great example.

Topaz and Jasper

When a puppy even slightly bumps it, the apple makes a pleasant and brief musical noise. The puppies look interested, and then they circle it, bumping it intentionally to generate the noise. They do this for a minute or two, and then move on.

There is lots of licking and mouthing of toys — this is Star Garnet.

Star Garnet

They are awake more and more each day but still spend the overwhelming majority of their time sleeping. This is Sapphire and Jasper.

Sapphire and Jasper

Does this look comfortable?!

Jasper

Happy Monday 🩷💙💙💙

(Later)

I thought for sure we would have an escapee today. Jasper gave it a good shot.

Jasper

Star Garnet was so close.

After seeing how close, I put down a folded fleece so that the landing will be soft when someone finally does make the leap.

Once they start escaping, the door will have to be closed but that makes it harder for Capella to go in and out so I am delaying it as long as possible.

It was another day of eat/sleep (95%), playing (2%), and getting good at walking (3%) — this is Topaz.

I wondered if they might like some water to drink. Jasper had other ideas about what to do with the water.

HOW is this comfortable?!

Jasper

Topaz with Sapphire. You can tell it is Sapphire because he is the only one that doesn’t have a significant white tail tip.

The puppies are getting so interactive with Capella. That is Star Garnet with her paw on Capella’s face.

Star Garnet was being so persistent that Capella finally just pinned her. Gently — but, yes, she pinned her 😂

Topaz snuggling with his mom.

Sapphire making the apple jingle.

They are all so social.

Topaz

I have waited over four years for this precious litter, and you can bet I am taking full advantage of my time with them 💙💙💙🩷🙏

This is SO fun.